'Dissapointed' in Nickelodeon

September 29, 2009 - Jim Anderson

Unlikely, perhaps, that Brent Bozell and a New York Times critic would agree on something, but that’s the case when it comes to a new prime-time offering on Nickelodeon. “Glenn Martin DDS” airs at 7 p.m. Central time Monday (and at other times?). I haven’t watched it, but from what I’ve gathered it shouldn’t be following “Sponge Bob.”

Bozell, the founder and president of the conservative Media Research Center, calls it “sleazy” in a recent column, “Nick at Nite Blight.”

I won’t bother with the plot summaries or jokes that Bozell finds objectionable.

What’s really revolting, Bozell says, is that Nikelodeon is hoping young children will stay for the "vulgarity."

“The show’s website actually boasts to that effect,” he writes. “‘The premiere week posted double-digit gains for Nick at Nite over last year’s like time period with kid, tween and teen demos... The premiere episodes held 89 percent of its lead-in ratings (The Penguins of Madagascar) with kids 2-11.’”

“You really wonder how in the world these entertainment executives can look at themselves in the mirror,” Bozell concludes.

New York Times media critic Mike Hales complained less about the show being raunchy as being laugh-free — little more than hackneyed gross-out humor.

Hale, who has previously used the words “demagogue” and “Glenn Beck” in close proximity, was quoted by Bozell in his piece in the vein of “see, even he hates it.”

That’s not to say everyone loathes it. David Hinckley of the New York Daily News says “Glenn Martin DDS” is “accessible comedy — the kind of show where you aren’t sure what to expect, but once you sit down, you keep watching.”

The problem, of course, is the venue — early evening on Nickelodeon. Here’s how a young viewer weighed in at BCSreview (Because We Said It):

“I am very dissapointed in Nickelodeon as well, am I’m only 15. I babysit my two sisters every night untill 10 and the first day it aired they begged me to let them stay up to watch it. From the 10 minutes I saw of it I was quite frankly appaled. This show is crude, widly innapropriate, and down right dissapointing that nick would stoop so low to consider exposing this to young kids. I’m not even a parent yet I was still offended. Nick i hope you take this off soon before you loose all of your 8:00 night time ratings.”

Loose, lose, no matter. An entertainment executive looks in the mirror and it can’t spell either.